Representative Rokita (IN), along with Representatives Brat (VA), Loudermilk (GA), and Smith (MO), have introduced legislation, the Promote Accountability and Government Efficiency Act (H.R. 3257), that would make radical changes to the rights and protections of federal workers.
To start, the bill would make any employee hired on or after one year after the bill’s enactment an at-will employee that may be removed or suspended without notice or a right to appeal for “good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all.” However, certain legal protections remain, including laws protecting employees from... Read more ...
Union News Archive
07/19/2017
Rep. Diane Black, chair of the House Budget Committee, has released a proposed budget plan for Fiscal Year 2018. As of the posting of this report, the House Budget Committee is scheduled to consider and vote on the plan today. Several Republican members have shared concerns with the budget plan in advance of committee consideration, and it is not known at this time whether or not there will be enough support from legislators for the budget to be voted on, and to pass on the House floor.
The proposed blueprint is for a budget resolution for FY 2018, and it outlines general spending... Read more ...
The proposed blueprint is for a budget resolution for FY 2018, and it outlines general spending... Read more ...
07/18/2017
Late last week, the House Appropriations Committee approved its FY 2018 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. The bill would make a $3 million reduction in funding for the Securities and Exchange Commission. NTEU strongly opposes this cut. Though modest, SEC is in great need of additional resources to fulfill its important mission of protecting the American investor.
Also troubling is that the bill includes many of the provisions of HR 10, the “CHOICE Act,” that would place the banking regulatory agencies (FDIC, OCC, NCUA and CFPB) under the appropriations process,... Read more ...
Also troubling is that the bill includes many of the provisions of HR 10, the “CHOICE Act,” that would place the banking regulatory agencies (FDIC, OCC, NCUA and CFPB) under the appropriations process,... Read more ...
07/18/2017
The House Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill has been approved by the House Appropriations Committee. Historically, this is the measure that carries the General Schedule for federal employee pay raise.
As in the past four years, the bill did not include specific language on the January 2018 across-the-board pay increase, which would allow the President’s 1.9% proposed raise to go into effect in January unless further Congressional action is taken to increase or decrease the proposed raise. The FSGG appropriations bill must still be approved by the full House... Read more ...
As in the past four years, the bill did not include specific language on the January 2018 across-the-board pay increase, which would allow the President’s 1.9% proposed raise to go into effect in January unless further Congressional action is taken to increase or decrease the proposed raise. The FSGG appropriations bill must still be approved by the full House... Read more ...
06/28/2017
Last week, nine House Republicans wrote to Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to express concerns regarding proposals singling out federal employees for cuts in pay and retirement in the administration’s FY 2018 budget. Citing various cuts already imposed on federal employees in the name of deficit reduction in recent years, these members have asked their leaders to consider the sacrifices federal employees have made in previous years, and cited that it would be unfair to change the rules again for this workforce. As they wrote, “Our strongest objection is how the proposals... Read more ...
06/08/2017
NTEU Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman recently greeted new SEC Chairman Jay Clayton at SEC Headquarters in Washington, D.C. During their meeting, they discussed a wide array of issues related to the SEC’s culture and workforce, including compensation, work-life programs, and improving morale as reflected in the agency’s steadily improving scores in the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. Mr. Gilman said “We look forward to partnering with Chairman Clayton in ensuring that the SEC continues to maintain the type of workplace that is conducive to retaining and recruiting the workforce we need... Read more ...
05/23/2017
The President’s proposed budget to Congress for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 has been officially released. As a reminder, an administration’s budget request serves as a spending blueprint and guide to Congress, and additional legislation is needed to enact any of the substance carried in subsequent congressional budgets. This proposed budget relies on overhauling an existing deficit reduction law, enacted in 2011, that established overall budget caps for both defense and nondefense discretionary spending. Non-defense discretionary spending, which is already at historic lows, would be further... Read more ...
05/22/2017
Last week, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing entitled, “Federal Employee Compensation: An Update,” to examine a recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report that found that certain federal employees earned more, on average, in the federal government than in the private sector.
An invited witness from the Heritage Foundation cited flaws in the CBO report for not taking into account federal employee benefits such as child care subsidies, transportation subsidies, student loan repayment and forgiveness programs, retiree health care, flexible work schedules,... Read more ...
An invited witness from the Heritage Foundation cited flaws in the CBO report for not taking into account federal employee benefits such as child care subsidies, transportation subsidies, student loan repayment and forgiveness programs, retiree health care, flexible work schedules,... Read more ...
04/12/2017
On April 12, 2017, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued agency guidance on how to fulfill the requirements of both the January 23, 2017 Presidential Memorandum imposing a hiring freeze and the March 13, 2017 Executive Order directing OMB to submit a comprehensive plan to reorganize federal agencies while aligning those initiatives with the President’s March 16, 2017 Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Budget Blueprint. This guidance requires all agencies to:
Begin taking immediate actions to achieve near-term workforce reductions and cost savings, including planning for funding levels in the... Read more ...
Begin taking immediate actions to achieve near-term workforce reductions and cost savings, including planning for funding levels in the... Read more ...
04/07/2017
The National Treasury Employees Union supports legislation introduced this week that would ensure federal employees are paid during a government shutdown. Sen. Ben Cardin (Md.), joined by 16 other senators, introduced the Federal Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2017 (S. 861) in the event that Congress is unable to reach an agreement before the current government funding measure expires on April 28.
“We are hopeful that Congress can avoid a disruption in government services,” said NTEU National President Tony Reardon. “But just in case, it is good to know that Sen. Cardin and his colleagues are... Read more ...
“We are hopeful that Congress can avoid a disruption in government services,” said NTEU National President Tony Reardon. “But just in case, it is good to know that Sen. Cardin and his colleagues are... Read more ...
04/06/2017
This week the SEC is celebrating SEC Telework Week to recognize the success of the telework program negotiated by the union for SEC employees. Under Collective Bargaining Agreement Article 11, employees may telework up to five days per week, affording them greater flexibility to balance their work and personal lives. The agency's celebration of the union's telework program presents an important opportunity to review the history of this benefit. Employees should remember that programs like telework exist at the agency solely due to the hard fought efforts of the union in the face of consistent... Read more ...
04/06/2017
The SEC’s Director of the Office of Human Resources (OHR), Lacey Dingman, will testify this morning before the House Governmental Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on Government Operations. The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) will be submitting written testimony to the subcommittee. The purpose of the hearing is to review trends in employee engagement as reported in the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government annual rankings. Due directly to successful labor-management collaboration in recent years, in the most recent Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), the SEC saw... Read more ...
04/06/2017
The IRS announcement this week that Americans with overdue federal tax bills will start getting calls from private debt collectors is an unwelcome development that will waste taxpayer money and further endanger taxpayers who are already targeted by financial scams and identity thieves.
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has long opposed the use of private collection agencies (PCAs) to chase delinquent taxpayers because it has proven to be inefficient, unfair to lower-income taxpayers, and it opens doors for fraud and abuse.
“Every time this has been tried before, it has failed,”... Read more ...
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has long opposed the use of private collection agencies (PCAs) to chase delinquent taxpayers because it has proven to be inefficient, unfair to lower-income taxpayers, and it opens doors for fraud and abuse.
“Every time this has been tried before, it has failed,”... Read more ...
04/06/2017
Last week, President Donald Trump issued this Presidential Memorandum establishing the White House Office of American Innovation (OAI). Headed by Jared Kushner, Senior Advisor and son in law to the President, and consisting of several other senior White House staff, the OAI’s mission is to make recommendations to the President on policies and plans that improve government operations and services, improve the quality of life for Americans, and spur private sector job creation. It is responsible for launching initiatives with a focus on innovation, coordinating implementation of any resulting... Read more ...
02/07/2017
Legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Barry Loudermilk (GA) that would upend the current adverse action procedures under title 5 United States Code for employee removals. H.R. 559, titled the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation Act of 2017, or so-called “MERIT Act,” was introduced with several original cosponsors: Congressmen Austin Scott (GA), Grothman (WI), Barr (KY), Messer (IN), Babin (TX), Arrington (TX), and Bishop (MI).
Under the bill, agency heads would be able to propose removal of an employee based on performance or... Read more ...
Under the bill, agency heads would be able to propose removal of an employee based on performance or... Read more ...
01/26/2017
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman, Jason Chaffetz (UT) has introduced H.R. 396, the “Tax Accountability Act” that would require the firing of federal employees with “seriously delinquent” federal tax debt. H.R. 396 is similar to legislation introduced during the 114th Congress (H.R. 1563) that failed to garner the two-thirds majority votes needed for approval under the procedure used in the House for this bill’s consideration and thus, was not approved.
As introduced, H.R. 396 would require all federal job applicants to certify that they do not have a seriously... Read more ...
As introduced, H.R. 396 would require all federal job applicants to certify that they do not have a seriously... Read more ...
01/09/2017
Last week, the House of Representatives formally voted on its rules of procedure for the new Congress (2017-2018). As the majority party, the House Republican conference met on Monday evening to deliberate over and to finalize the rules package that was voted on late last week by the whole House. NTEU opposed the package. Nevertheless, it passed by a vote of 234 to 193.
This package included a notable change for appropriations measures that affects federal agencies and federal employees. Under the Holman Rule, which originated in 1876 and was last abandoned in 1983, amendments would be... Read more ...
This package included a notable change for appropriations measures that affects federal agencies and federal employees. Under the Holman Rule, which originated in 1876 and was last abandoned in 1983, amendments would be... Read more ...
01/09/2017
Attached is a copy of the Executive Order issued by the White House implementing the 2.1 percent average pay increase for General Schedule federal employees that is effective with the first pay period of 2017.
The President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget proposal to Congress recommended a 1.6 percent average pay increase for 2017, with one percent designated for the across-the-board pay raise and the remaining amount allocated to increasing locality pay rates. Earlier, the President, under authority provided by the federal pay law, issued alternative pay plans to Congress calling for the 1.6... Read more ...
The President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget proposal to Congress recommended a 1.6 percent average pay increase for 2017, with one percent designated for the across-the-board pay raise and the remaining amount allocated to increasing locality pay rates. Earlier, the President, under authority provided by the federal pay law, issued alternative pay plans to Congress calling for the 1.6... Read more ...
12/09/2016
Congressional leaders released language this week for a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that will avert a government shutdown at midnight on Friday when current agency appropriations are set to lapse. This CR, the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017 (H.R. 2028) will keep federal agencies running at their current funding levels through April 28, 2017 though agencies will absorb an across-the-board cut of 0.1901%. The measure includes additional funding for defense and other foreign operations as well as emergency natural disaster relief; however, it... Read more ...
09/29/2016
Yesterday, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) briefed NTEU on the premium rate increases in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) for 2017 that covers approximately 8.2 million federal employees, retirees, and eligible family members. In plan year 2017, the FEHBP will consist of 245 health plans government-wide. Overall, premium increases for FEHBP plans in 2017 will average 4.4%; 3.7% for the government and 6.2% for enrollees. Rate increases for the 1.7 million participants in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program will be 1.9% for dental... Read more ...
08/31/2016
Today the President sent Congressional leaders a formal letter transmitting an alternative pay plan for the calendar year 2017 pay raise for federal workers in the General Schedule. Under current law, absent congressional action to establish a pay raise, the annual, across-the-board pay raise for most federal employee pay systems is set automatically using a formula tied to the Department of Labor’s Employment Cost Index (ECI), which measures the rise in private-sector pay. However, the law also provides the President with the ability to set a different pay raise amount, which is required to... Read more ...
06/15/2016
This week, the SEC announced its implementation of this program requiring employees to insert their HSPD-12 ID cards into their keyboards to gain access to the SEC computer network. Through the use of this tool, the SEC will be able to monitor and collect data concerning when employees are on the agency's network and when they are not.
The union does not oppose the use of HSPD-12 cards to ensure the security of the SEC's network. However, in repeated communications with the SEC's Office of Human Resources, the union requested that the SEC agree not to utilize the data it collects from the use... Read more ...
The union does not oppose the use of HSPD-12 cards to ensure the security of the SEC's network. However, in repeated communications with the SEC's Office of Human Resources, the union requested that the SEC agree not to utilize the data it collects from the use... Read more ...
05/10/2016
Have you considered some of the important legislation that would impact federal employees that is currently pending in Congress?
Federal Pay Legislation
H.R. 4585 (Connolly-VA) and S. 2699 (Sen. Schatz-HI)-provide federal employees with a 5.3% pay raise in 2017. NTEU Supports.
H.R. 1137 (Rice-SC)-cuts certain federal salaries immediately by 8.7% and limits future pay raises. NTEU Opposes.
Retirement & Health Care Benefits
H. Con. Res. 125-Proposed House Budget for FY2017 (Price-GA) –disproportionately targets federal employee benefit programs, resulting in significantly higher retirement... Read more ...
Federal Pay Legislation
H.R. 4585 (Connolly-VA) and S. 2699 (Sen. Schatz-HI)-provide federal employees with a 5.3% pay raise in 2017. NTEU Supports.
H.R. 1137 (Rice-SC)-cuts certain federal salaries immediately by 8.7% and limits future pay raises. NTEU Opposes.
Retirement & Health Care Benefits
H. Con. Res. 125-Proposed House Budget for FY2017 (Price-GA) –disproportionately targets federal employee benefit programs, resulting in significantly higher retirement... Read more ...
03/28/2016
The House leadership’s proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2017, which calls for significant cuts to discretionary and mandatory spending over the next ten years, advanced out of the House Budget Committee last week on a party-line vote, but House leadership has so far been unable to secure the needed votes to pass it on the House floor. House leadership has announced their plan to attempt a floor vote in mid-April as they work to secure additional support from Republican members who want greater cuts to overall spending.
Specifically, the budget calls for $49 billion in unspecified cuts in... Read more ...
Specifically, the budget calls for $49 billion in unspecified cuts in... Read more ...
03/09/2016
Earlier this week, Representatives Tammy Duckworth (IL) and Richard Hanna (NY) introduced legislation to clarify that it is a prohibited personnel practice in the federal government to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. NTEU strongly supports this legislation and applauds the bill sponsors for their leadership on this issue.
In 1983, the Reagan Administration concluded that a federal employee in the excepted service had merit system protections from being dismissed solely because of his or her sexual orientation. That determination has been further... Read more ...
In 1983, the Reagan Administration concluded that a federal employee in the excepted service had merit system protections from being dismissed solely because of his or her sexual orientation. That determination has been further... Read more ...